Gimme $1, I'll give you $54

This is more of the engineer coming out of me.  Let me back fill the title and it'll all make sense...I hope. I was listening to a friend recount how his pastor came to be a pastor.  Basically, one day he was drivin' his delivery truck and he came (or was lead) to the conclusion that he wanted to be a pastor. Upon sharing this potential  career choice with his wife, she stated an emphatic no. Apparently she had seen or lived through the life of a pastor's family and the "glass house" aspect did not excite her.  For 6 months the husband prayed that the Lord would move her heart, but he never mentioned another word about this new passion.  The husband stated he lacked the words to change her mind and heart.  One evening the man came home to find his wife in tears on the floor.  When she saw her husband come in, she came up to him and said the Lord had been pounding her heart and she could not take anymore.  If he still wanted to be a pastor, she would support him.  That was 27 years ago.  So my point is, he gave up 6 months, to gain 27 years.  That's a return of 5400%!

In our situation, we have been waiting for 9 months (we were matched with Vova back in June 2011).  By the time we finish, the total process will have taken close to 10 months.  Now if you are askin' me if I am patient, nope, just ask my kids.  We pray for daddy to have patience.  But if you're askin' me would I be willing to give 10 months, to gain 45 years or more with another child in my family, HECK YEAH!

Hmmm...wonder what the ROI is for eternity?  I digress.

So I have another friend who keeps me grounded or lifts me up when I need it and he sent me this passage: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 

Timely words considering the uncertainty we are facing.  Even faced with the heart wrenching possibility of not returning home with Vova, we still have to thank God for his provisions.  For keeping us safe.  For the home and three healthy, loving boys He has already provided us. For food.  For the ability to travel with no complications.  For all we have.  This is like riding a tandem bike, only we are sitting on the back seat and Jesus is in front.  All we hear is "hang on" or "lean left" or "hard right", but we can't see the path ahead to know which direction is best.  We have to have faith.

God give us the strength as we head across the Atlantic and start down a path you have laid.

Ready or not, here we come

Like I said, I'm an engineer, not a writer, so I'm copying an email I sent out earlier today. I'm not condoning copying, but it will make typing on an iPhone less painful.

We have received our appointment date in Kyiv for March 26th! Thank you so much for your prayers and support, I can't tell you how comforting it has been to be surrounded like this. We will be keeping up communications while we are in the Ukraine through this blog.

Which I just realized I need to update with this latest awesomeness.

Thank you again for your support and prayers. We still have no word on the availability of Vova, though, we are praying for his comfort and that Vova's prayers be answered during this confusing (and God glorifying) time. If he chooses the family that is there, amen. If he waits for us, amen. This is difficult to wait through, however, we've had to have faith through this entire process, no reason to stop now.

I heard this passage quoted last night at 747 and it fits:
"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10 KJV)

Your friend,
Mikey

"Here we sit like..."

Well it has been a week since we were informed that another family was interested in Vova and I have very little to report. Our conversation with Vova was brief and mainly through an interpreter. When Vova did get on the phone, I blanked on every Russian word I knew and fumbled through a few sentences, to which we got nothing in return. When we were talking through the interpreter we could hear Vova ask about our sons and the dogs. We were not about to tell him that we had to put Dudley down. Saturday came and went with no news. Sunday had a little info for us and we found out the orphanage was closed for visitations. We also found out that Vova's availability was going to be put into question for the other family. I cannot give a more detailed answer than this. It's kind of like the old military adage of don't ask, don't tell. Just roll with it. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday brought zero news on an appointment date. Thursday the Ukraine was on holiday for International Women's Day so no progress. Friday was also a holiday, it's either the recovery day, or it's similar to when July 4th falls on a Tuesday or Thursday for us. You take the bookend off to make up the difference.Wednesday marked 20 days from when our dossier was submitted. Under the prior structure of the SDA, we likely would have heard by then. Under the new format, the 20 day clock does not start until the dossier has been reviewed and our name is put on a list. We are on the list, but we don't know when that happened. We are being informed that we should hear something next week. Please pray that we receive our appointment date and can move forward.In the meantime, all our boys have started soccer, so our Saturdays are busy with 3 games and church in the evening. Lisa and I are gonna go on a date this weekend to recharge. The weather should be nice, so maybe I'll go for a ride on the Harley too.

Let go and let God

So I create a title for this blog of "Follow Me!", and now we get to see how well we can follow Him. Today we found out that another American family is talking with, playing with, and in general trying to woo Vova enough to say yes to being adopted by them. I can't tell you the mix of emotions going through us. We are elated that someone out there has heard the cry of orphans and opened up their hearts and home to adopting a child. The flip side is, why our little Vova. We are soooo close to hearing back from the SDA about an appointment date, which will most likely be 3-4 weeks out. Selfishly, I want him. The father in me can't wait to take him hiking or for a ride on the Harley. I also know why this family is pursuing him. He is that captivating, adorable, handsome, intelligent, playful, and desperate for love of a family. I keep running the story of King Solomon through my head from 1 Kings 3:16-28. Now we aren't talking about splitting Vova with a sword, but I would rather him have the love of a family, than to have to live in the orphanage.

It is easy to say, God's will be done, but this hurts right now. I have asked for prayers, but I'm not sure what for. I have prayed each morning that God would answer the prayers of the orphans. He just might be doing that. Be careful what you ask for. We are not just sitting back through this. Our facilitator in the Ukraine has been working on our behalf to encourage Vova to have patience. We are going to be making a phone call, maybe even a Skype video call, tonight to remind Vova how much we love him, miss him, and are coming for him soon. You just have to endure no heat, cold showers, no privacy, minimal attention, no possessions, and limited companionship for about another month. He's an 8 year old boy living as an orphan...I know what I would do. I don't blame him, I love him.

Nonetheless, we have had this boy in our hearts, prayers, blessings before meals, wallpapers and screensavers for the last 7 months. It will not be that easy to let go.

God you have pulverized my heart over the last year. Lord I ask for comfort and guidance. I thank you for the abundant family you have blessed us with. I thank you for having given us the time we had with Vova and if you give him to the other family, you will have blessed two families with one orphan. The glory is yours, but I am struggling right now and desperately need your comfort.